168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMzexioWjT
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT29jrb8UfA
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAmsVO3jNF
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tUEhiY7S8
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzERyxBTtm
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8dHnfkulb
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTqfFkW6af
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM1DoOczv9
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1pehokhxe
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaid4aLOQXZ
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0j8z4Gd0fa
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5rQiZi5HL
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogR7PaUkow
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyl9CdInA5
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6drEWjBMbq
the ranks of the worlds greatest military might.
Inside the singleton building, all the way in the room closest to the training ground, a man sat at his desk looking168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZeMK48Y69
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15fIf8SKyo
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpsfKA7VlF
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp6Cle4NW3
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczIAI9j4xn
the letter. It was addressed to him.
Vander was in his twenty-fifth year of life and his eighth year as a Blade. He had been promoted to Captain a168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VLzPBzzcm
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTKsuvDOXf
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLhteIfqKP
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCCE1KdS3U
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS5bqiRD3W
Alexander, who instructed them in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander was a giant of a man standing well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his arms the size168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5Bqzi475H
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG6srfzdkr
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd9ec0dPyQ
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQny6l2N0a
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbieE20ZqL7
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsXQlcW2LF
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhv5LZCvEYC
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOezXeI8Wil
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqgRZNTX3z
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFxLhmGs7r
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1OoGvPIo8
the only life he knew.
He turned to look at his bed where a massive white wolf stared at him with concern in her eyes. Shea tilted her head168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cLnr5dVUD
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFLNjbz84V
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNUVrnIlZv
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpjQjQtyHY
enough for Shea to snake her way through the opening.
He put the jacket on to protect himself against the cool springtime air as he left the building. The jacket was168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcz72WJ4VJ
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhj8ksiE5E
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKqTzWZVzj
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqaedAUPVy
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SKfeCJRkF
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumwwSanFLO
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfslYRd3ur
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdFllsKCdK
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQpvtt9q86
the shade as her master did his duties.
Alex acknowledged him with a slight nod of his head, but he soon turned back to watch the trainees practice168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNqQRKEtG8
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9IgD5pKER
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsgEVo78rJ
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP9h17LFtL
use muscle groups they didn’t normally use it their training.
“How’s everything coming?” Vander asked. He stood with his hands held behind his back, his eyes or demeanor168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCT87iSR9s
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQVypBZvf3
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q48bHvXwB
their progress is still slower than I would like.”
Vander watched as the siblings Rooster and Chicken squared off against each other. Rooster was bigger and168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndrnWqijSP
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V9mLQQf9G
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7X9Lijco4
headlock where his size would have the advantage.
He wasn’t quite sure where the two of them had come from before making their way to Eluvia, but they were both dead168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tnvA88t0I
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLsuvzCoH0
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7WC9JxJWu
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIJ9OQDKqm
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWRc0vODz6
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yGNBC6fwo
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDoPY6dPUV
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe2WPwu9tJ
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEwpyFMvDF
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNck5RDuHJw
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvLhN4OkFL
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlRiM6vF0k
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWPlYgL9pP
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rx7zfOBVl
the rest could barely stand. Her dark black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Briar and Forest, he was unsure if they were siblings or not, sat next to each other their faces unreadable. They168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlE0wLi6o2
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8wK86U8SD
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurlVM5CMi5
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeFXFAEBMH
up against, she would throw hands with anyone who looked at her funny.
Forest was her opposite. He wore his blonde hair sheared short; his blue eyes always looked for a way to take his168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlf3gyWxmm
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DnWzHsO6
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmoBIDIwsK
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwF7g3PZAA
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq4D2OfEI8
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HJ3mxNcha
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3c3i5DAqr
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJzTMXo1Xt
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRDgRaiQYf
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbrTUckbeh
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyMV9yVROS
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHd12TqOJA
fired back with an answer.
“How about we fight him?” she suggested. “All we’ve done is fight each other while he sits on the sidelines168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfVkRk5Je1
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUv0IN1Y9I
didn’t show it, Vander was happy with her proposal.
“What do you think?” He turned towards his friend. If Alex was surprised, he didn’t show it. It was how their group168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpJFXzSRs5
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtbHYIFwCB
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBThzFrA4j1
them, and it would be a good lesson for these recruits as well.
“I’m down, but don’t come crying to me when you lose.” Alex growled.
“I have a better idea though.” Vander removed his jacket before handing it to Alex. “How about the five of you fight168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCnUsKHyz8
me? I want to see how much you all have improved.”
“Do we get something if we win?” Briar asked. “Otherwise, it won’t be fun for us. I’d rather get beaten up trying to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DVcs7piuH
get something than nothing at all.”
“Do the rest of you agree?” They all looked at each other then nodded their heads. Vander thought for a moment168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl7n95Kfzh
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bq9fL7vEk
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxkmWfZDnu
which will include drinks.”
“Aw yeah!” They got their feet and cheered. The food in Eluvia was much better than the food they had out here.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJcLBhPlo2
The fact they wouldn’t have to pay was just a bonus.
“Settle down!” Vander shouted over them. “If you want a wager, there must be something in it for me as well. If I beat you, you will go168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3u9MMK6By
for a run in the forest with twenty pounds added to your packs.”
“Anything but that.” Rooster groaned.
“Come on,” Vander grinned. “Out of all the things I could ask you to do, a run through the woods is small by168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaslUZzcEps
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGqJWKQVq2
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSZkabF8J0
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhezOZz6Q5
good to tell them that now.
“Mind if I go first?” Rooster got up from his spot on the ground and went to stand in front of his mentor.
“What would you like to fight with?” Vander asked. “Swords, knives, fists? Take your pick, whatever you want.”
“Swords please.” Vander nodded to Alex who walked towards the fence where their weapons were hanging up. They didn’t168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE0I0LYaoa
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RlQQ0i10y
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1WAVip0Yw
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW10DejgBX
could still build muscle and train how to use them.
Alex handed one of the swords to Vander before crossing the field to hand the second to Rooster. He stood in168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1YV56UIGM
between them, off on the side, and raised his hand. “Begin!” He shouted.
Rooster being the plucky little kid he was, launched himself forward swinging the lump of metal aiming for Vander’s168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEK1lCfSHFI
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrYcDuYffo
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhbQgoDKsA
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IIzhWVuc6
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo7xnOKk3T
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGn5hyPG4xi
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9KwlDrlGZ
flushed with anger.
“Swings are wide, and you rush in when you should be a little more cautious.” Vander said. He held out his hand which168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7CDnNQ69d
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORBPZ117AJ
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVNQdbuanT
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyl1SLyl0O
his spot on the ground.
Chicken shook her head which didn’t really surprise him. She wasn’t much of a fighter preferring the safety of168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFbmPEcB6f
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6QJ2uGz7y
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRj1X1jVNO
weights and sat down next to her brother.
“Do you mind if we come at you together?” Briar and Forest asked. That was surprise to him as he didn’t think168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx1WYppXBY
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaUCCntOIH
Perhaps they would surprise him so he would allow it this time.
“What weapons would you like to use?” The two of them looked at each other before nodding.
“Bare hands.” A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Vander stripped off his jacket and tossed it to Alexander. The168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZBwXepW0j
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0D1SIgY9g
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVe6LCBNvj
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfs9hl3qrzA
at attention then smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Forest and Briar raced off in opposite directions trying to get him in a pincer movement. While he was focused on one, the other could take his back and grapple him before he had a chance to defend himself. So, he did what anyone in his position would do, he struck first. He went after Forest because he was the strongest of the two. He must not have expected the attacked because he barely had time to defending himself from the punch Vander threw at him. Forest blocked directing the strike away, but it clipped his ear. He stumbled sideways clutching the side of his head. Vander grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in front as Briar came in with own punch. She collided with Forest and knocked him to the ground.
“I’m so sorry.” Briar gasped. She held her hand to her mouth as she watched Forest struggle to his feet.
“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.” Vander whispered in her ear. She spun around to hit him but was too168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKucpThOQXS
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypZ3fAHN8C
finished her with a punch to the jaw knocking her to the ground.
“Briar!” Forest struggled to his feet. Vander kicked him in the ribs knocking him back down.
“If they two of you are going to be worried about each other during a fight, you leave yourselves open.” Vander168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNE6fDdrJZ
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv8PzNgD9X
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1mR1w76z0
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysQHL7DWhr
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNFvZUncCp
sustained would last a few days. It would be a painful lesson for them.
“This makes it my turn.” Eve got up from the ground and brushed off her pants. She walked over to the rack then168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWr5JxH57I6
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMG5UqsOeM
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bMEA5aU7m
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWy7Q40Lzc
other in an underhand grip.
“Would you like me to use daggers as well?” Vander asked.
“Use whatever makes you comfortable.” She shrugged. He rolled his shoulders and motioned for her to come at him. She168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfax31C6FE
didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge.
The fight was quick and brutal. She was quick with the slashes, but as they were lumps of metal, they didn’t really168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMaDXG3vV3
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7odwc6jBVs
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANFqCdIzpb
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyWkmgVX3R
away. Daggers, like fists, were an intimate way to try and kill someone.
As Eve stabbed down with a dagger, Vander brought his arm up to block the strike. At the same time, she stabbed up168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsnQEDyxV7
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSvRKp1f9H
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGRs7ZwqKy
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvwtGaZTZ3
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQb1lroiEEw
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXOadzxLcU
brought her head back then slammed it into Vander’s face.
He felt his nose crunch under the blood. He stumbled backwards clutching his hand over his gushing nose. Between168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mY3OGVSWY
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYggFRml22
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ0KG1MHep
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUiqH6VtjS
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Q9Q5is7tJ
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFng4rDpb6Z
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dJguRy9GE
ground, but he was heavier and stronger than she was.
“I yield.” She gasped. Vander got up off her and took the handkerchief Alex offered him to staunch his bleeding168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ183KFQA9Xa
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2OPGx1E97
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rOYlDetlB
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg7zaez2cW
blood out onto the grass.
“I’m lucky I have more experience with these kinds of fights.” He explained. “In a few more years she would have168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1jU8nZP39
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1euWygwh0
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGLr5dThAz
fighting.” Alex explained. “It’s a mess.”
“Eve is the strongest of the group, but I’ve seen the way she looks at them. Seems she thinks they are dead weight.168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfdvSs7oPd
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ485VAUvaCc
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNuMGSG9Ll
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI4LJWMsFQ
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf6dcyfqgH
feet before trotting after the recruits.
“I’ll get lunch ready.” The two of them went their separate ways.
After Vander washed his face and changed his clothes, he sat down in his chair willing himself to relax. In the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1s5fQEJTb
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDCZCQY0rH
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLa0EGIDNbJ
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfx3dU6bMS
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSjaUmnhsG
open the door then jumped onto the bed to curl up and go to sleep.
As he sat watching her, he remembered the letter from his grandfather that had come earlier. Grabbed his knife, he168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGtWPJQAPd
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEdhJFtDC3
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1yr8hQ8jG
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWwees0raq
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCAnFtd3va
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please168Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kL08XH7jA
trust me on this, come back.
-Your grandfather, Charles
P.S. This is a Red Alert.
Once he read the Red Alert, he knew that it was an emergency. Only a couple of things would warrant his grandfather putting that in a letter recalling him and none of it was good. The rest of the letter didn’t matter to him. He crumbled it up and slipped it into his pocket. He rushed outside to call the others to him.
They would have to leave tomorrow.
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